Safety clothes rack



Oct. 16, 1962 E. MGDOUGALL SAFETY CLOTHES RACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1961 Oct. 16, 1962 E. MCDOUGALL SAFETY CLOTHES RACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1961 INVENTOR. f %fia%ll BY Oct. 16, 1962 Filed July 10, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1? INVEN TOR. W 49 Oct. 16, 1962 E. MCDOUGALL 3,058,795

SAFETY CLOTHES RACK Filed July 10, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A "mm MN NN MN nm N MN Q m 9% W f 3,58,7% Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,958,796 SAFETY (JLOTHEE; RACK Edgbert McDougall, 4508 Whitehouse St, Spokane, Wash. Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,732 3 (llaimis. (Cl. 312-274) This invention relates to a coin operated locker assembly for the storage of clothing in a public place.

The present invention is concerned with a coat and hat locker for use in restaurants, hotels, theaters and other public places where persons may desire to store their outer garments during a duration of time. At present two alternatives are possible in such establishments. The establishment may provide personally attended checking facilities which are both costly and occupy a great deal of space. The establishment may also choose to provide open racks for the storage of such clothing. This invites problems due to inadvertent or intentional taking of a persons clothing by some one other than the owner. In either case the space required for such storage facilities is normally quite great compared to the volume of the actual clothing being stored. In order to solve this very practical problem the present invention contemplates a locker apparatus which may be coin controlled and which is extremely compact so as to store the normal coats and hats in as small a space as is possible. The lockers themselves are designed to be installed as units and are easily replaceable should they become damaged during normal use. The overall structure includes a basic rectangular framework within which may be mounted any desired number of locker units in multiples of two. In order to conserve the available space two coat lockers are mounted in side by side relation below a pair of vertically positioned hat lockers which are automatically controlled thereby.

It is a first object of this invention to provide such a locker unit which utilizes a single operation of the user to open and close both the coat and hat storage areas. This single operation involves only the sliding outward of the coat locker and requires no additional manipulation of any sort to fully open the coat storage area for removal or entry of a coat to its stored position.

The invention also contemplates as a primary object a coat storage area having movable side walls which are automatically positioned by a sliding action of the overall coat unit. These sliding side walls are designed to fully enclose the coat when in its stored position so that the opening of adjacent coat units or the removal thereof will not endanger articles stored in adjacent units.

It is another object of this invention to provide a modular unit which can be supplied in any multiple of pairs as desired. The movable locker units are designed for easy assembly and removal so as to be adaptable to any space requirement found in existing establishments. The entire locker assembly is designed as a portable unit mounted on casters for positioning in various rooms as may be desired.

These and further objects will be evident from a study of the following disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. This form is merely one example of the various types of lockers contemplated within the invention and is not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the invention except as it is limited and defined by the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a complete storage unit with all the individual compartments in closed positions;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation View of the left hand end of the unit shown in FIGURE 1, with the coat compartment at the far left being shown in a partially opened position;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2, and showing the assembly of the left hand compartment in its partially opened position, the central area of the compartment being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view taken along line 55 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the two left hand coat compartments as seen along line 66 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through the line 7-7 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 in FIGURE 5.

The basic structure of the invention can be seen in the perspective view of FIGURE 1. In this figure the rack for outer garments is shown with ten units mounted in a single framework. The overall locker assembly includes ten coat locker units 20 which are mounted in side by side positions along the lower portion of the overall unit. Mounted above the coat locker units 20 are related hat units covered by hinged doors 17. The coat locker units 20 are spaced in pairs below two vertically positioned hat units enclosed by the doors 17. Although ten units are shown in FIGURE 1, this number may be increased or decreased as may be required by the particular installation. The placing of the coat locker units 20 and the hat units is designed for maximum space saving and allows for storage of outer garments in a minimum volume of space.

As used below the basic framework is meant to include the skeleton surrounding frame of the overall unit, together with the fixed panels secured thereto, plus those portions of the removable coat locker units 20, which are fixed to the skeleton framework during operation of the lockers. Thus the basic framework includes plane exterior end panels 10 and an exterior top panel 11. The back of the framework is open except at that area included in the hat lockers, which is covered by a partial vertical rear wall 16. The panels 10 and 11 and rear wall 16' are supported by a skeleton framework of angle ir'ons. This includes lower transverse angle irons 12 which run across the width of the lockers and parallel upper transverse angle irons 13. Mounted above the upper transverse angle irons 13 in spaced positions are two horizontal channel partitions 14 which serve as the floor for a pair of spaced hat lockers. These partitions 14 are suitably supported by the skeleton frame of angle irons and are mounted in fixed positions relative to the overall framework. In order to provide a cubicle arrangement for the storage of hats and other movable items, the horizontal partitions are split into cubicles by means of vertical partitions 15. Thus each hat locker is bounded by a pair of vertical partitions 15 and by a pair of horizontal partitions 14 to complete a rectangular configuration. The rear ends of these cubicles are enclosed by the previously described wall 16.

The front ends of the hat cubicles are enclosed by movable doors 17. The doors 17 are mounted flush with one another so as to prevent persons from prying the doors open when they should be closed. The doors 17 are shown mounted about horizontal hinges 18 at their top edges. Thus the doors may be moved from a closed position to a horizontal position, at which the cubicle would be fully open. The position of the hinges 18 is not critical and could be along the sides or along the bottom edge of the door as may be desired.

Each of the coat locker units 20 is designed as a removable unit for replacement or repair. The design of the locker units as independent units also allows one to build up an overall locker apparatus in the size desired. Each unit 20 is mounted along its top and bottom ends by identical slide assemblies. Thus for the sake of brevity only one assembly will be described, although it is to be understood that the remaining assembly is identical in all respects and identical numerals will be .utilized to designate the parts of each slide assembly regardless of their positions. The units are adapted to be mounted on fixed slide supports 21 which can best be seen in the sectional views of FIGURES 4 and 5. The fixed slide supports 21 each have outwardly projecting ribs 21a extending along their longitudinal length. Mounted on the slide supports 21 are individual removable slides 22. The

lateral edges of'the slides 22 are designated as 22a and are bent over themselves to thereby receive the ribs 21a of the respective slide supports 21. Thus the two vertically spaced slides 22 are suspended from the slide supports 21 and are movable longitudinally relative to these slide supports 21. Fixed to the rear ends of the slides 22' is a vertical rear panel 23. The panel 23 is recessed along its top and bottom edges so as to clear the ribs 21a of the slide supports 21. Thus the slides 22 and the rear panel 23, fixed thereto, can be moved as a unit longitudinally along the supports 21. This unit is adapted to be fixed relative to the supports 21 by a front locking plate 24, mounted on the upper surfaces of the slides 21 adjacent their front edges. This locking plate 24 is adapted to be secured directly to the front edge of the respective slide supports 21 by means of a common screw 25. When the screw 25 is secured, the slides 22 and rear panel 23 are fixed relative to the slide supports 21 and therefore become a portion of the fixed framework. The purpose of the slides 22 is to allow the entire coat locker unit 20 to be removed when desired by merely releasing the screws 25 and sliding the locker unit forward to remove it from the framework.

The movable portions of the coat locker units are slidably mounted by extensible slide units. Each of these units includes an inner longitudinal ball race 26 having a concave inner surface and an outer longitudinal ball race 27 which extends along the race 26 and is movable longitudinally relative thereto. The inner race 26 is fixed to the lower surface of the adjacent slide 22. The outer race 27 is freely movable longitudinally relative to the inner race 26 and is not fixed to any of the adjacent units. Connecting these two races 26 and 27 are spaced balls 28 mounted in a ball retainer 30. This type of a unit is commonly employed in drawer supports. As seen in FIGURE 7, the front end of the outer race 27 is provided with laterally projecting stops 32. The rear end of the outer race 27 is provided with a fixed stop 31, adapted to abut the retainer 30.

v The outer races 27 support longitudinal members 34 which have four spaced rollers 33 mounted on their upper surfaces. beams, having inner flanges 35 projecting inwardly toward the proposed member 34. The members 34 have flanges 35 which project inwardly and flanges 52 which project outwardly. The latter flanges serve to cover the sides of the slide mechanism. The inner flanges 35 serve as guides for the flexible sheet which constitutes the vertical walls of the coat locker units 20. The rollers 33 are spaced along the outer surfaces of the members 34 so as to ride along the outer convex surfaces of the outer ball races 27. Thus the members 34 may be moved longitudinally relative to the fixed-framework by pulling them in a forward direction. The members 34 are free to move along the outer race 27 until the front rollers 33 abut the stops 32. The stops 32 then pull the outer ball race 27 relative to the inner race 26 until the ball retainer 30 abuts'the end stop 31. At this time the member 34 will be entirely removed from the area bounded by the slides 22. This position will be its fully-extended location.

. The members 34 are joined along their front edges by The members 34 are formed as light weight I-.

a top panel 36 which has a suitable height to cover the slide apparatus when the unit 20 is closed. The members 34 are also joined by a vertical roller 37 mounted near the front ends of the members 34 and spaced lightly rearward from the front panel 36. At the rear ends the members 34 are joined by a vertical brace 38 which is adjustable in height to properly position the members 34 along the slide apparatus at each of its ends. Thus the brace 38 cooperates with the roller assembly 37, the flout panel 36 and the two members 34 to complete a rigid slidable unit which is movable into and out from the fixed framework of the basic unit. a

The walls of this slidable unit are formed by a flexible sheet 40. The material of sheet 40 may be varied to meet different conditions, but may consist of a heavy rubber material, a plastic composition or common flexible materials such as linoleum. Sheet 40 is rectangular and has a height sutficient to bring it adjacent the central portions of the member 34 intermediate the flanges 35; The length of the sheet 40 is suflicient to enable it to wrap around the entire length ofthe members 34 along both sides thereof. Sheet 40 has one vertical edge 41 anchored by any suitable means to the rear panel 23 adja cent one lateral edge thereof. The remaining vertical edge of sheet 40 is reinforced by a suitable metal strip 42 so as to provide additional rigidity to this edge which moves relative to the members 34. The free edge 42 of sheet 40 is connected at each vertical end to individual cables 43. These cables 43 wrap about an idler pulley 44 mounted respectively at the rear ends of the members 34 and have their remaining ends anchored to an extension 45 fixed to the respective slide 22 at its forward end. The cable 43 is utilized to move the edge 4-2 in a rearward direction when the locker unit 20 is being closed.

The operation of the coat unit is quite simple. The slidable portions, including the front panel 36, are merely pulled in a forward direction from the closed position illustrated at the bottom of FIGURE 6, to a fully extended position beyond that partially extended position illustrated in the top portion of FIGURE 6. As the vertical roller 37 is pulledforward it abuts the inner surface of the sheet 40 and causes the sheet 40 to pull along the guiding surfaces of the inner flanges 35. Thus the free edge 42 is gradually pulled forward until the area bounded by the sheet 40 and members 34 is opened on one side. To close the sheet 40, one merely pushes the panel 36 rearward. This motion causes the idler pulley 44 to pull on the cable 43 and thereby move the free edge 42 of the sheet 40 in a rearward direction until the closed position is again attained.

In order to correlate the motion of the coat locker unit 20 with the door 17 of the related hat lockers, a longitudinal slot 46 is cut along the floor of each hat locker through the horizontal partition 14 adjacent one vertical partition 15. These slots 46 are staggered and are adjacent the outer vertical partitions 15 above each pair of coat locker units 20. No slots 46 are required intermediate the vertical partitions 15. Each slot 46 receives a lever 47 which is fixed to the outer ball race 27. The lever 47 is mounted at the rear end of the outer ball race 27 and moves therewith. Lever 47 extends vertically through the slot 46 and is pivoted at its upper end to a connecting link 48 which 'pivotally connects at its remaining end to the lower portion of the respective door 17. This arrangement can best be seen in FIGURE 3. It can thus be seen that as the front panel 36 is pulled outward to open the coat locker unit 20, the lever 47 will move forwardly and push the door 17 upward to open the coathat locker. The rearward movement of the front panel 36 will obviously pull this door 17 closed. No latch or external pull for the door 17 is required to complement this movement.

. To facilitate the storage of outer garments such as coats, within the coat locker unit 20 suitable hooks 53 are prow'ded on the under surface of the top member 34.

A coat hanger 49 may be suspended from the hook 53 as desired. The front panel 36 of each coat locker unit 20 is provided with a handle 50 to facilitate pulling of the panel 36 to its open position. The panels 36 will be preferably locked by any suitable mechanism 51 which may or may not be coin operated.

The coat locker unit 20 is removable as a unit for repair or replacement purposes. Thus one does not have to Work on a damaged unit at the site of the apparatus but may carry it to a suitable workshop. The entire unit 20 is easily removed by unfastening the lever 47 and releasing the screws 25. The coat locker units 20 and the doors 17 for the hat lockers are mounted flush along the overall assembly so as to prevent tampering with individual units by persons other than those having keys for lock unit apparatus 51. The upper hat lockers are operated in an identical manner to that described and shown for a lower locker, the lever '47 extending through two horizontal partitions 14 instead of only one. Thus each coat locker unit 20 has an associated hat locker which operates in related timing with the opening of the respective coat locker unit 20.

The main function of the sheet 40 in each unit 20 is to provide a flexible wall which will open automatically with the pulling of a vertical front panel 36. No hinged door is required to enclose each individual locker unit 20 so that entry cannot be made by those opening adjacent units 20. The fact that the sheet 40 closes upon itself within the width of the front panel 36, eliminates congestion when the units 20 are opened by several persons at one time and prevents damage to extended doors which may have accidentally been left open. The sheet -40 automatically opens and closes with the pulling of the front panel 36, which is the only manual step necessary to operate both locker units simultaneously. This is also an essential element making the locker units 20 readily accessible to persons having packages in their bands which would make it impossible for them to manipulate more than one handle.

Various modifications may be readily seen by those skilled in this field without deviating from the broad scope of this invention. Therefore the concepts contained herein are not to be limited except as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A locker assembly comprising:

a rigid rectangular framework;

top and bottom vertically spaced horizontal members slidably mounted on said framework in vertically aligned positions for longitudinal motion relative to the framework, each of said members including a pair of inwardly directed longitudinal guide elements transversely spaced on its surface facing the remaining member;

a vertical panel fixed to corresponding front longitudinal ends of said members;

bracing means connecting said members to form a rigid slidable unit including said panel;

a vertical roller mounted across said members near the front ends thereof and spaced rearwardly from said panel;

and a flexible cover comprising an upright rectangular sheet extending vertically across the space separating said members, said sheet being anchored along one of its vertical edges to the rear of said framework and extending therefrom along corresponding vguide elements of said members to the front ends thereof, through the space separating said roller and said panel and rearwardly along the remaining corresponding guide elements of said panels.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprisa fixed rectangular compartment located on said framework above said slidable unit;

a hinged door covering the front end of said compartment and mounted on said framework;

a longitudinal slot formed along the length of said compartment;

and operating means connecting the top member of said slidable unit and said hinged door adapted to swing said door to an open position in response to forward motion of said slidable unit relative to said framework.

3. A locker assembly comprising:

a rigid rectangular framework;

top and bottom vertically spaced horizontal members slidably mounted on said framework in vertically aligned positions for longitudinal motion relative to the framework, each of said members including a pair of inwardly directed longitudinal guide elements transversely spaced on its surface facing the remaining member;

a vertical panel fixed to corresponding front longitudinal ends of said members;

bracing means connecting said members to form a rigid slidable unit including said panel;

a vertical roller mounted across said members near the front ends thereof and spaced rearwardly from said panel;

a flexible cover comprising an upright rectangular sheet extending vertically across the space separating members, said sheet being anchored along one of its vertical edges to the rear of said framework and extending therefrom along corresponding guide elements of said members to the front ends thereof, through the space separating said roller and said panel and rearwardly along the remaining corresponding guide elements of said panels;

a pair of pulleys mounted respectively at the rear ends of said members;

and individual flexible means anchored at one end to the front of said framework adjacent each of said members and passing over the respective pulleys, the opposite ends of said flexible means being secured to the remaining one of the vertical edges of said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cole Dec. 8, 1914 Broderick Feb. 2, 1960 

